Hogg Memorial Auditorium was the first theater on campus and was part of the "Union Group" buildings financed almost entirely by student and alumni efforts. The auditorium was named after James Stephen Hogg, the first native governor of Texas. Throughout the decades, Hogg has served as a hub for different aspects of the UT campus life. When it opened its doors in 1933, the inaugural event was a lecture by poet Robert Frost. In the 1950s, it was the main stage for UTs drama department and throughout time it continued to serve as a venue for lectures, debates, and traveling plays, serving the campus as well as the community. After a dormant phase when Hogg was used for lectures, exams, and film screenings, it reopened as a performing arts venue in 1997. Today, Hogg maintains many of its original architectural features that make the space a historical gem on the 40 Acres